Fr Paul Durkin will become the new parish priest of St Ives Parish, Bishop Anthony Randazzo has announced, replacing the departing Discalced Carmelites priests who have been in charge of the parish since 2008.
Bishop Anthony has also appointed Deacon Tân Nguyễn, who will be ordained a priest in late April, as assistant priest of the parish, with both appointments taking effect from April 21.
Announcing the changes on the Solemnity of St Joseph, Bishop Anthony said the two priests would bring a complimentary skillset to their parish ministry.
"For the past three years, Fr Durkin has been Vice Rector of Good Shepherd Seminary, Homebush, previously Parish Priest of Wahroonga, and of Pennant Hills earlier," Bishop Anthony said.
"I am confident that Fr Paul will bring great experience and pastoral wisdom to the parish community supported by the energy of the newly ordained Fr Tân."
St Ives has held an important role in the history of the Diocese. From 1986 until 2008, it was the designated Cathedral of the Diocese and many of Broken Bay's priests and deacons were ordained there.
When Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara became the Diocese's cathedral in 2008, pastoral care of St Ives was given to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, with Fr Peter Dowd OCD serving as parish priest. He would later be incardinated into the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Fr Gregory Chee OCD has served as parish priest since 2017, guiding the parish for almost a decade.
"I wish to acknowledge and thank Fr Gregory Chee OCD for the depth of his pastoral care during his time as Parish Priest since 2017," Bishop Anthony said in a letter to parishioners last week.
"I know that he will be greatly missed by the community, along with Fr Sunny Peackal OCD and Fr Gerard Moran OCD who have been resident in community with Fr Greg through much of this time."
In late 2021, the Regional Vicar of Discalced Carmelite Friars of Australia, Fr Bernard Hancock OCD had informed Bishop Anthony the Order would not be able to sustain its presence indefinitely at the Parish of St Ives. At the time, the Order had only 14 Friars in the region, with an average age of 70.
It was announced the Order would withdraw from the parish by mid-2026, with pastoral care returning to the Diocese.
The Friars will celebrate their last Mass in the parish on Sunday, 19 April, with a celebration to follow, acknowledging their 14 years of service to the parish.